Man Charged With Hate Crime In Attack On Elderly Jewish Man In The Bronx

A Yonkers man was charged with a hate crime this weekend on allegations that he attacked an 84-year-old Jewish man in a Bronx assisted living facility.

Alen Califano, 41, was charged with robbery, assault as a hate crime, burglary, and weapons and marijuana counts, police said.

Sources said the suspect entered “The New Jewish Home” assisted living facility, at University Avenue and West 192nd Street in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx on Saturday.

The 41-year-old allegedly asked a security guard to use the bathroom in the home, but immediately started entering different apartments and destroying property. He eventually ran up to the fourth floor, and entered an 84-year-old Jewish man’s apartment, according to police.

Police told the Daily News Califano ordered the victim to give him his money.

When the victim refused, Califano allegedly said ‘I will kill you, you (expletive removed) Jew.’ He then is said to have hit the elderly victim with a cardboard tube, cutting his mouth and forehead – and then allegedly picked up a fire extinguisher and threw it at the man, who blocked it.

Police were called and arrested Califano as he tried to flee the nursing home.

The suspect has an extensive record dating back to 1992, sources said.

The assisted living facility issued a statement said the incident was isolated, and a guard employed by a private contractor who breached protocol was blamed.

“There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our residents. This isolated incident is the result of an unacceptable breach of protocol committed by a guard employed by the private firm contracted to provide security at this assisted living facility. The guard was fired immediately. And we have demanded, by Monday morning, an incident report and remedial action plan from the company. The University Avenue Assisted Living staff responded quickly and immediately contacted law enforcement. We are fully cooperating with the NYPD,” director of University Avenue Assisted Living.